Arriving in Smithers by train, from Prince George, we were able to shop along the way on the commute into town. The mountains teased every step of the way, and by the time we pulled into the Smither's train station we were more than ready to hit the slopes.

We decided we needed a quick gear prep and wax from the keen crew at Local Supply Co. right in town. Over dinner, we dialled in our ski day plan with tips from friendly locals. Our heads filled with ideas, new locations and endless options, we drifted off to sleep in our slope-side cabin, knowing we'd be on top of Hudson Bay Mountain ski resort before the sun rose.

You could feel the magic of this place as the sun faded and the fat flakes began to fly. The fresh snow called, so we explored Hudson Bay Mountain run by run. Gladed trees held stashes of untouched snow and the lineless T-bars and chairlifts chauffeured us up lap after lap for more Champagne powder. Flawless groomer runs were reserved for playful races and party laps with our crew.

Owner of Local Supply Co, Jay, took us for a lap through the terrain park and introduced us to his kids who were fearlessly hitting all of its features. It's in this area of the resort where the rumoured Cabin Colony exists. One-of-a-kind cabins dot this section of the mountain, tucked between runs hidden in the trees. Owned primarily by locals with a love of skiing, these cabins made us dream of living here all winter long.

Up for another dose of northern B.C. powder, we started the next day by heading to Skeena Cat Skiing. Operated by a mother and son team, it was easy to see how passionate these two are. These powder junkies couldnt wait to show us their terrain.

We loaded into the cat, first stopping untouched alpine with big open bowls and steeps, leaving us to choose any line we wanted. The immense scale of terrain in the Babine Mountains looked even grander in the early morning light. Dropping into untouched powder all day long never got tired, but eventually our legs did. Our smiles were non-stop, just like the runs. It was everything we had hoped for  face shots, epic terrain and the best crew to ski with.

Leaving with a hefty list to accomplish on our next Smithers trip, we felt content. Our legs were tired, but our hearts were contented, as we loaded onto the train, knowing full well that we'd be back to this gem before too long.

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Most people’s intuition kicks in the first time they meet someone and as we all know, first impressions are key. If the Northern B.C. community of Smithers were a person, I know it would be one of my best friends. Why? For one thing it has one of the highest concentrations of outdoor adventure stores – per capita – in the country and for another, as our new #SkiNorthBC friends describe it, it’s a place that is wrapped in "alpine everything."

Snow banks taller than myself line the streets of Smithers, a sure sign that this incredible snow haven is in good winter form. Whether arriving by plane, car or Via Rail, your first glimpse of town will without doubt steal your heart and whisk you into the mountainous magic that surrounds you.

Peaks soar above. Snow piles up above car rooflines, and terrain for backcountry touring stretches seemingly endlessly. Here, there are no motors running, no crowds, no distractions. Just you, your friends and the bowls, ridges and glades to play in.

After witnessing and shooting one of the most stunning sunrises of my life from the peak of Hudson Bay Mountain, I was intrigued by the small mountain community I saw on my way up. It turns out there are a handful of people who live on the mountain and whole-heartedly embrace this place.

This leg of our SkiNorthBC expedition brought us to a little place called Smithers, located in northwestern B.C., halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers has a small but mighty population of just more than 5,400.